November 12, 2013 - Give and it is Mine

"Bryce Canyon"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #316

“All gifts I give my brothers are my own.”

At times, these concepts are not only difficult to comprehend, but they may, at first, sound downright silly! Yesterday we pondered that everything anyone gives is mine; now we are to think that everything I give is mine, too. How can that be? This is one of the many proofs that this Oneness we speak of is actually a viable possibility! But thoughts like this cause our mortal mind, ego, to jump up and say that if this is true, evil can be spread to everyone, also. And if that is so, how can we keep from feeling doomed? But it's not true because the only thing that is One is what God created. God did not create anything unlike itSelf, so what we term "evil" is actually unreal, as it is only found in the mortal mind, never in divine Mind. And so there is a choice! I can live as though one or the other is true. As Einstein said, You can live as though everything is a miracle or as if nothing is. My choice is easy on this one!

“… that joy which finds one’s own in another’s good”

Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 127

November 11, 2013 - Pay it Forward

"Ozark Sunset & Bonfire"
photo by Chris Fischer

ACIM Workbook Lesson #315

“All gifts my brothers give belong to me.”

Every kind word spoken, every heart overflowing with Love, every freeing thought of forgiveness, enrich me and everyone in the world, whether we acknowledge it or not. There are many movements based on spreading love and kindness. One of my favorites was started by Charley Johnson in Utah and it's based on the book and movie, Pay it Forward. As part of his vision, there are bracelets which read Pay it Forward. When someone thanks you for a kindness you've done, you take off your bracelet and give it to them, asking them to do the same for someone else. Let me know about instances you've witnessed which scatter joy!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes,--Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply."

Science & Health Page 206:15-17

November 10, 2013 - A Future of Happiness and Love

"Eureka Memories"
photo by Vernon Tucker

ACIM Workbook Lesson #314

“I seek a future different from the past.”

History was my least favorite subject in school. I always questioned why I needed to know these things. Of course, people told me I must know this in order to benefit from the good things and not to repeat the bad. This never felt right and it still doesn't! Now that we're more fully realizing the possibility of living in an entirely new way through other-dimensional thought, my reluctance to read and study past events makes more sense to me than ever before. Understanding the nature of our Being negates the need to educate ourselves by way of past mistakes. Understanding of spiritual Truth, allows us to surpass what has been thought of as human limits. In giving up strong opinions, I am more able to ascertain spiritual perfection. I see a future of happiness and love. 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The human mind, imbued with this spiritual understanding, becomes more elastic, is capable of greater endurance, escapes somewhat from itself, and requires less repose. A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity.”

Science & Health Page 128:11-19

November 9, 2013 - New Perception

November Sunset
photo by Arthur Lau-Sed

ACIM Workbook Lesson #313

“Now let a new perception come to me.”

Recently a dear friend told a group of us about being terribly afraid of the dark. She said she had always been this way, to the point she had asked her husband to never leave her alone if it wasn't light. She told us that three days after he died, the fear she had always lived with left her. It was just gone! This story has stayed with me and come to mind often. What a beautiful demonstration of letting go! Just like that, in the blink of an eye, we can be past anything, no matter how long we have claimed it as a part of us. What gratitude I feel to this woman for sharing her story of shifting perception making a huge difference in experience! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The human mind will sometime rise above all material and physical sense, exchanging it for spiritual perception, and exchanging human concepts for the divine consciousness. Then man will recognize his God-given dominion and being."

Science & Health Page 531:10-14

November 8, 2013 - An Idea of Divine Mind

"First Day Skiing in Utah"
photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #312

“I see all things as I would have them be.”

When I tell people I want to give up the thoughts I think and think the thoughts of divine Mind, they often assume I want to be controlled by a cultish-type of group. But I think of it as the opposite. If I am making decisions based on past events and learned behaviors, then I have no freedom of thought. I am living by material restrictions and repeating thoughts dictated by human opinion. My desire to live as an idea of divine Mind opens me to an expansion of thought and action which has no limit. What an exciting world this is, when we release the restrictions dictated by past education and see our way to a deeper education, facilitated by divine Love!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"The supposed existence of more than one mind was the basic error of idolatry. This error assumed the loss of spiritual power, the loss of the spiritual presence of Life as infinite Truth without an unlikeness, and the loss of Love as ever present and universal.

Science & Health Page 479:5-10

November 7, 2013 -Live Love

photo by Aaron Springston

ACIM Workbook Lesson #311

“I judge all things as I would have them be.”

As I read today's lesson -- which begins the first of ten lessons asking us, "What is the Last Judgment?" -- I think of ancient Toltec wisdom as shown to us by Miguel Ruiz in the Four Agreements. Two of these agreements lead perfectly to non-judgment: "Don't make assumptions" and "Don't take anything personally". These dictates are my constant companions. They always come to mind when I'm tempted to take offense by someone's statements or to apportion blame in any way. If I don't take anything personally, then I need make no assumptions as to others' motives. If I make no assumption about why someone says or does something, then I won't be thinking they are attacking me or anyone else. When we are living our true Being as a child of God, we can rest guiltless and blameless, with none of the dis-ease or inharmonious manifestations which result from living outside divine Principle. Let me live Love today and always!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"No final judgment awaits mortals, for the judgment-day of wisdom comes hourly and continually, even the judgment by which mortal man is divested of all material error. As for spiritual error, there is none."

Science & Health Page 291:28-32

November 6, 2013 - I Spend Today in Love

"Eureka Springs in the Woods"

ACIM Workbook Lesson #310

“In fearlessness and love I spend today.”

From the moment we stand up and toddle we hear, Be careful, don't fall!! We instill fear and worry in our children even before they're born, don't we? Most mothers-to-be are worried about a myriad of things, and have been taught to believe it's necessary. Everywhere we turn, there is something to fear. When I was a kid, the only things I was warned about in the woods were snakes, poison ivy, and perhaps an occasional wild carnivore. Now everything from ticks to the sun may attack us, and we go to great lengths to protect ourselves, putting poisons on our skin to avoid something we perceive to be worse. This is yet another example of the material illusions we have made for ourselves. Is there a way out of this? Yes! By living in fearlessness and Love we can realize Truth, which dispels illusions of dread. As I go through this day, I will notice what learned behaviors are ruling my life, holding me in fear rather than Love. The words of a great teacher come to mind: Perfect Love casts out fear! 

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.”

Science & Health  Page 261:4-7